The Ruins of Pompeii: a city frozen in time
The Roman city buried by the eruption of 79 AD: Forum, baths, houses and amphitheatre, a few minutes' walk from the centre of Pompei.
A city under the ash
On 24 August 79 AD the eruption of Vesuvius buried Pompeii under metres of ash and pumice, as Pliny the Younger described in two letters to Tacitus. The ash preserved houses, shops, frescoes and everyday objects, making the city a unique document of Roman life.
What to see
The Forum was the political and commercial heart of the city; the House of the Faun with its Alexander mosaic and the Stabian Baths show the wealth of Roman Pompeii. Don't miss the Amphitheatre, the Grand Theatres, the Street of Abundance and the body casts, a moving testimony of the eruption.
Tours and practical info
The excavations cover about 44 hectares and the main entrances are at Porta Marina and Piazza Esedra (Piazza Anfiteatro). Opening hours change with the seasons: check on the day of your visit and allow at least half a day, if not a full day, to explore unhurried.
Steps from town
From the centre of Pompei the entrances are a few minutes on foot, passing the Sanctuary and streets full of shops and trattorias. A visit starts well in the morning, when the ruins are quieter and the light flatters the frescoes.